My 6 month old baby food recipe

My baby started on solid food at 4 months. But, she only tried it for two weeks. I stopped feeding her solid food because I felt that she was not ready and so I stopped even though her pedia recommended that it was okay to start feeding her solids as early as 3 months old. I did not worry since my baby is fully breastfed.

At 6 months, I resume feeding her solids, taking note of the 4-day rule. That is, introducing only one type of food for 3-4 days to check for possible allergic reactions. Below are a list of foods that I prepared for my baby.

Week 1: Organic whole wheat cereal (Earth's Best) and carrots
Week 2: chayote and pumpkin
Week 3: potato and banana
Week 4: ampalaya and cereal, camote

I like Earth's Best whole wheat cereal. It comes in several sachets in a box. Its so easy to prepare and very "tipid". A single sachet is enough for 3-4 feedings (I guess depending on your baby's apetite).

The list of food above were quite easy to prepare except for ampalaya. For carrots, chayote, pumpkin and potato, I just prepared it togethr with my "sinaing". I just peeled the veges then placed on the steamer of the rice cooker when cooking rice in the morning. The amout of veges depends on you if you want for a one day feeding. I usually prepare mine good for 3 days. The cooked vege is then mashed using a regular fork. The stocked mashed vege is then placed in a clean container and then refigerated (not freeze). To prepare a single meal, I just scooped the desired amount and then add (distilled) water or expressed breast milk to get a smooth consistency.

The banana is the easiest to prepare. No need to cook. Just get the desired amount for a single feeding, mashed and ready to serve.

The ampalaya is I guess the trickest. I slice the ampalaya thinly, sprinkled salt, then extracted the bitter juice by pressing hard with my palms. After making sure I extracted all the bitterness of the ampalaya. I then blended the ampalaya meat with distilled water for smooth consistency. The serve the prepared ampalaya by alternating it with the cereal. Feeling ko kase sobrang natabangan si baby hehehe

At first I only fed my baby breakfast and lunch. When my baby reached 6 months and 3 weeks. I tried feeding her 3 times a day (at 6:30am, 11:00am, and at 5:00pm). Her milk time is given on demand since it sometimes varies because her changing nap time.

My golden rule when feeding my baby is... she decides when she's full or when she had enough. When she no longer opens her mouth, that for me is a sign that she's full already. After feeding, I give her water on her sippy cup... At 6 months and 2 weeks, my baby no longer drinks using the sippy. Also, make feeding time, fun time for your baby. Be prepared for a messy yet fun meal time.

Miel @ 7 months

My baby is now 7 months old. We do not practice monthly celebrations but my hubby said that its a lucky number, so we should somehow celebrate it. We just prepared our all-time favorites.... fried chicken and Filipino style spaghetti for dinner. My sis-in-law then bought choco mousse from Red Ribbon. Just a simple celebration for our little princess.

My baby's milestones at 7 months old:

• Able to sit unsupported for several minutes 
• Drags or grabs hold of objects she finds interesting
• Lunges forward (in a crawling position)
• Searches hidden objects 
• Pick things up with thumb-finger (pincer grasp)
• Babbles  

A Rash-free Bottom

Three weeks ago, I was aghast to see an angry looking rash on my baby's bottom. It was red all over and there were tiny red bumps on her front and back. This was partly my fault because I did not follow the pedia's advise to use on my baby a lampin during the day and diapers at night... bad bad mommy. To all parents out there, just admit it, its so much easier to just use diapers 24/7.

Anyway, I immediately used ordinary lampin or plain white shorts on my baby during the day. I just wash her bottom with tao water whenever she's wet or after she poops. Then I make sure her botom is dry before applying  an ointment rash... ( I used calmoseptine oitment, available in sachet at php40/pc in mercury drugstore). Then late afternoon and during the night, my baby wears diapers. I just make sure that whenever she pees or poops, I change her diaper right away or else the rash worsens.

In just one week, I have seen a big difference... no more rash. I just instucted the yaya to continue using lampin or plain shorts during the day to keep my baby's bottom rash-free.

Though it would be messy sometimes, using lampin not only kept my baby's bottom rash-free but also lighten our expense on diapers.

Nursing and travelling with a 6 month old baby

My baby's first time to travel ^_^ Me and my hubby were super duper excited foe her. Though it was only an hour flight to our province and then land travel by bus for 1.5 hours we were excited for her. Ganun talaga siguro pag first-time parents.

I just want to share our experience on travelling with our 6 month old baby girl ^-^

I have been breastfeeding my baby exclusively for almost 2 months (note that I fed her solids when she was 4 months around 2 weeks only), so I just feed her whenever she's hungry and just have a shawl ready that I use as a nursing cover.

For our trip, my baby wore pink shorts and a shirt. Since we took the fist flight @ 4:30am, my baby also wore a baby jacket, a cap, and leg warmers. In our hand carried bag the essentials I think were: an absorbent towel, extra shirt and shorts, diapers, baby wipes, alcohol, blanket and a changing mat plus her fave toys. I also put in my baby's bag my kikay kit hehehe (para naman looking fresh lagi si mommy).

What I forgot to bring which would have been very handy was a baby carrier/sling and a rocker so that I do not have to carry her all the time at our destination.

The changing mat and blanket were very useful because I can just put my baby anywhere when she's asleep. Just make sure you are at her side so that she won't fall.

For the mommies, I find that a sturdy sling bag is very useful when travelling with your baby. Choose a bag that you can easily accessed with one hand your ID, money and tickets. I even knot my shawl on my bag so that I can just easily get it whenever my baby is hungry.

For breastfeeding moms, make sure you wear clothes that are easily accessible. I do not have nursing tops but I just make sure that I wear tops that I can easily open. I think you should bring extra breast pads, lampin, and padded nursing bras (for leakage).

Don't worry, I use my other hand to support her... the minute she woke up, syempre carry agad.

On the plane

while waiting for our flight

On the bus, si daddy talaga...

A Family Celebration ^-^

My family planned and organized an intimate renewal of vows at my parents house held on August 29, 2010 on a Sunday at the terrace of my parents' home. It was also a perfect time to celebrate the 56th birthday of my dearest father.

My Auntie and I talked about this event a lot since January this year when my Papa was confined for several months due to complications of his diabetes. But everything was organized about a month before the event. The wedding was held at my parents' home to prevent unnecessary stress on my father at the same time to cut costs. We were on a tight budget due to the bills incurred from hospitalization, medicines plus dialysis of my father.

Sharing our "kwento" on how we organized the wedding and birthday event:

Theme and motif
Theme: Garden wedding
Motif: Fuschia

Officiating Priest
My father had a priest in mind months before the event. A foreign healing priest at the hospital where he was admitted. He's originally from Nigeria but amazingly he speaks our native dialect fluently. He promised my father that he will officiate the wedding. He had a car so we did not have to worry on his travel to the venue. On the day of the wedding, he was late for almost an hour since he got lost. But then the wedding definietly turned out great. He delivered a touching homily and we laugh eveythine he says "Ang amigo ko, na gwapo, si Ramon" (hehehe) By the way, my father's name is Ramon.

Decor
My Auntie's hubby brought a tarpaulin that we used as a backdrop. We decorated the place with balloons (pink and white). My parents had an L-shaped table in their kitchen that we used as the buffet table. My Aunt just covered it with white linen and use pink for the skirting. We borrowed a tent from a neighbor. Rented tables and chairs. Then placed tealight candles with rose petals as centerpieces.
For the altar, we used a white linen and a golden runner. We then placed two glass candles and a cross.

Food
We hired a cook instead of acquiring catering services. We computed for the costs and it was way cheaper if we just get a cook.

Lechon - provided by my cousin
Goat adobo (yumyum)
Goat meat curry - the goat meat was provided by my Kuya
Papaitan
Pina Rice
Fish with white sauce
Fried Chicken
Spaghetti
Cupcakes: Labor of love; baked by my Aunt and decorated by my sis-in-law and pamangkins
Chocolate Cake: bought in Cebu
Chocoate fountain: DIY

Drinks: Wines provided by my ninong; provided 8oz softdrinks

Photographers
Labor of love by my Auntie's hubby and my dearest hubby ^-^

Videographer
Labor of love by my sis in law

Men's attire
Barongs were bought in divisoria for Php300 each. Groom's barong cost at Php2500.

Women's attire
For the women in the family, we bought ready made dresses at Tutuban Mall.

Bride's attire:
Bought fabric and had it sewn at a local seamstress. My Aunt just got my Mom's measurements. Buti nalang walang problema sa fitting.

Girl's attire:
Bought fabric in Tutuban and had it sewn at a local seamstress.

Flowers
Ordered a bouquet worth php500 (imported roses) and long stem red roses for the altar flowers.

Mass offering
Mass wine, host, fruits, etc.

Choir
We requested our community choir to sang at my parents wedding. Game naman sila since kilala naman nila family namin.

Make-up and hair stylist

My aunt and me hehehe

Wedding Rings

Gift from my Aunt

Ring Pillow

Our own pillow from our wedding ^-^

Other DIY

I copied from the net a program for the renewal of vows. I also designed and printed a certificate for the renewal of vows.

My pamangkins showcased their talents after dinner... It was a wonderful celebration. Napaiyak si papa sa homily ni father at kahit sobrang bumuhos ulan during the ceremony proper it went well as planned. The happy faces of our parents were priceless... Kudos also sa Auntie ko na all-around from baking, decorating lahat yata na career na niya hahaha  

Kuya Dennis sumakit lalaluman sa pag ihip

Mass offering (Fruits, Mass wine, host, etc.)